NEW RELEASE: George T. Stagg and Weller 12 Barrel Finished Tequila included in the 2023 Corazón Collection

tequila

A PRESS RELEASE today from Sazerac (owner of Buffalo Trace Distillery) revealed some tasty news in its partnership with Corazón Tequila. The Jalisco based family owned company is releasing a super premium 6 bottle collection including 5 labels finished in Sazerac primo barrels. Price range SRP being $59.99 – $79.99, all at 80 proof. COPY […]

The post NEW RELEASE: George T. Stagg and Weller 12 Barrel Finished Tequila included in the 2023 Corazón Collection first appeared on The Bourbon Review.

tequila

A PRESS RELEASE today from Sazerac (owner of Buffalo Trace Distillery) revealed some tasty news in its partnership with Corazón Tequila. The Jalisco based family owned company is releasing a super premium 6 bottle collection including 5 labels finished in Sazerac primo barrels. Price range SRP being $59.99 – $79.99, all at 80 proof.

COPY FROM PRESS RELEASE

Corazón Tequila is thrilled to announce one of its most extensive Expresiones del Corazón Collections to date. Showcasing the extraordinary partnership between Casa San Matías, Mexico’s fourth oldest tequila distillery, and Buffalo Trace, the World’s Most Award-Winning Distillery, the 2023 Collection features six premium tequilas, including two brand new añejos aged in French Oak and ex-Weller 12 Year Old Bourbon barrels. In addition, the award-winning Artisanal Blanco and William Larue Weller, George T. Stagg and Sazerac 18 Year Old Rye Añejo Tequilas return as part of this year’s Collection.

Produced in limited-quantities, Expresiones del Corazón celebrates excellence in distillation, aging and experimentation by marrying Corazón’s premium tequila with barrels that once held some of the world’s most-coveted whiskeys produced at Buffalo Trace Distillery.

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Agave fields at San Matias. Courtesy
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Buffalo Trace Distillery, Frankfort, KY. Courtesy

2023 Corazón Tequila Collection

·       Corazón Weller 12 Añejo Tequila (NEW): matured for 26 months in ex-Weller 12 Kentucky Straight Bourbon barrels, where some of the finest bourbon at Buffalo Trace Distillery rested for 12 years, this añejo is moderately sweet with heavily cooked agave, toasted vanilla and a silky-yet-intense oak finish.

·       Corazón French Oak Añejo Tequila (NEW): aged for at least 13 months in French oak barrels that formerly aged Old Charter Oak French Oak bourbon, the resulting liquid offers aromas of rich oak and vanilla and a smooth and lightly-sweet taste offering hints of cooked agave, apple and caramel.

·       Corazón Sazerac Rye 18 Añejo Tequila: 24 months of aging in barrels that formerly held Sazerac Rye for 18 years has produced a moderately sweet tequila with strong hints of fresh fruit met with notes of oak, caramel, almond and cinnamon.

·       Corazón George T. Stagg Añejo Tequila: 22 months of maturation in barrels that previously aged the high-proof George T. Stagg bourbon has resulted in salted caramel flavors that burst on the tongue followed by charred pineapple that slowly transforms to tobacco, leaving a sweet-yet-smoky lingering flavor.

·       Corazón William Larue Weller Añejo Tequila: 15 months of aging in barrels that formerly held this beloved wheated bourbon has created a harmoniously smooth and dense tequila with lightly-sweet undertones.  The taster is greeted with aromas of wood, caramel and almond, then met with notes of chocolate, intense vanilla, nut, eucalyptus and chamomile.

·       Corazón Artisanal Small Batch Blanco Tequila: this premium blanco tequila is the extraordinary base spirit created by the artisans at Casa San Matias specifically for the Expresiones del Corazón Collection. Utilizing the finest estate-grown agave with a higher sugar content and artisanal distillation techniques, the result is a refined liquid with a sweet, gentle flavor and powerful notes of cooked agave intertwined with hints of citrus and green apple.

“Our dedication to exploring the unique liquid that emerges from the aging process drives our experimentation with new barrels,” says Rocio Rodriguez Torres, Master Distiller at Corazón Tequila. “We are thrilled to embark on this flavor adventure utilizing the exceptional barrels from Buffalo Trace Distillery, allowing us to expand the tequila landscape. Offering aficionados an entirely new experience, these tequilas unveil a symphony of flavors reminiscent of the liquid that graced the barrels before them.”

Crafted from the finest blue agave grown in the Los Altos region of Jalisco using time-honored methods, the agave hearts used for Corazón Tequila are slow cooked in stone ovens and then pressed, fermented and distilled with expert care at the renowned Casa San Matías Distillery. Careful maturation in Buffalo Trace’s best seasoned whiskey barrels for varying lengths results in an aged tequila that exemplifies the finest artistry in Mexican and American spirits making.

The Expresiones del Corazón line has garnered several top awards over the years for various limited release expressions. Top distinctions received for expressions returning to this year’s Collection include a Gold medal for Corazón William Larue Weller Añejo at the 2022 International Spirits Challenge, Gold medal for Corazón Artisanal Blanco at the 2022 TAG Global Spirits Awards, and Silver medals for Corazón Artisanal Blanco and Corazón George T. Stagg Añejo Tequila at the 2022 International Wine & Spirits Competition.

PRICING & AVAILABILITY: Each tequila is sold separately in the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection’s iconic glass bottle with a cork stopper and handwritten label specifying the barrel, bottle number and date of bottling. The Expresiones del Corazón 2023 Collection is now available in limited quantities at select retailers, bars and restaurants across the United States. The suggested retail price for the Artisanal Blanco is $59.99; the William Larue Weller, Weller 12, French Oak, George T. Stagg and Sazerac Rye 18 year Old Añejos are $79.99 each (750ml; taxes and fees vary by market.) All six tequilas are 80 proof. For more information about Corazón, visit https://www.tequilacorazon.com/.

About Corazón Tequila

Corazón Tequila is distilled and aged at Casa San Matías, a family-owned distillery in Jalisco, Mexico that has more than 130 years of experience. These tequilas are single-estate cultivated, distilled and hand-bottled. Made from 100% blue weber agave, only the highest quality plants are selected to create Corazón. The Corazón portfolio includes the Single Estate Tequilas, Single Barrel Tequilas and the Expresiones del Corazón Collection. For more information about Corazón visit www.tequilacorazon.com.

About Sazerac

Sazerac is one of America’s oldest family owned, privately held distillers with operations in the United States in Louisiana, Kentucky, Indiana, Virginia, Tennessee, Maine, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Maryland, California, and global operations in the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, India, Australia and Canada. For more information on Sazerac visit https://www.sazerac.com/.   

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The post NEW RELEASE: George T. Stagg and Weller 12 Barrel Finished Tequila included in the 2023 Corazón Collection first appeared on The Bourbon Review.

2022 American Whiskey Masters Awards: Buffalo Trace Distillery Wins Big

Buffalo Trace Distillery, Weller 12

The winners from the 2022 American Whiskey Masters Competition (AWMC) are in. You’ll notice some familiar faces (cough, Buffalo Trace), but you’ll also see some whiskey winners which may be new to your palate. The AWMC is just one component of the broader Global Spirits Masters Competitions which in total has 21 different spirit categories, […]

The post 2022 American Whiskey Masters Awards: Buffalo Trace Distillery Wins Big first appeared on The Bourbon Review.

Buffalo Trace Distillery, Weller 12

The winners from the 2022 American Whiskey Masters Competition (AWMC) are in. You’ll notice some familiar faces (cough, Buffalo Trace), but you’ll also see some whiskey winners which may be new to your palate.

The AWMC is just one component of the broader Global Spirits Masters Competitions which in total has 21 different spirit categories, each category having its own judgement day. The results of each competition are published in The Spirits Business.

The 2022 AWMC took place in London with 5 different judging panels, each comprised of qualified whiskey tasting pros. There were hundreds of American Whiskey entries.

The Highest Award Goes To…

6 different labels were chosen with the distinctive honor of “MASTER”, and the overall highest award “TASTE MASTER” going to a Buffalo Trace Distillery’s “Weller 12 Year Bourbon”.

The awards pecking order are as followed: Taste Master > Master> Gold > Silver

COMPANYPRODUCTAWARD
Buffalo Trace DistilleryWL Weller 12 Year OldMaster & Taste Master
LuxcoRemus Repeal Reserve Straight Bourbon WhiskeyMaster
Buffalo Trace DistilleryWL Weller Craft Your Perfect BourbonMaster
Distillery 291291 Colorado Whiskey Finished with Aspen Wood Staves, Barrel Proof Single BarrelMaster
Campari GroupRussell’s Reserve Rye 6 Year OldMaster
Campari GroupRussell’s Reserve Single Barrel RyeMaster

Distillery With The Most Wins….

Some, OK many would say not shockingly, Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, KY came away with the most awards with 16 medals. Including the highest honor of Taste Master and their Weller CYPB (Craft Your Perfect Bourbon) grabbing Master. Also of notice, BTD wreaked havoc in the “Bourbon – No Age Statement” category earning 11 of the 15 awarded medals. All but one of those being gold.

Four Roses and Wild Turkey also grabbed multiple Golds.

In the American Single Malt category, Virginia Distilling Co cleaned house.

Luxco’s “Remus Repeal Reserve Bourbon Whiskey” snatched a coveted Master award. Could that be a game changer for them? Along those lines, Colorado based 291 Distillery grabbed their own Master medal. That certainly won’t hurt their brand reputation and elevation.

Now, we bring you the AWMC awards, broken down by category….

EXCHANGE RATE: 1 Euro = 1.02 US Dollars

Bourbon – Premium (£0‐£30, $0 – $30.74)

BrandProductMedal
Four Roses DistilleryFour Roses Small Batch BourbonGold
Four Roses DistilleryFour Roses Straight BourbonGold

Bourbon – Super Premium (£31‐£50)

BrandProductMedal
High West DistilleryHigh West American Prairie BourbonGold
Four Roses DistilleryFour Roses Single Barrel BourbonGold
Four Roses DistilleryFour Roses Small Batch Select BourbonGold
Angel’s EnvyAngel’s Envy Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Port Wine BarrelsGold

Bourbon – Ultra Premium (£51+)

BrandProductMedal
Buffalo Trace DistilleryWL Weller 12 Year OldMaster & Taste Master
LuxcoRemus Repeal Reserve Straight Bourbon WhiskeyMaster
Buffalo Trace DistilleryEagle Rare 17 Year OldGold
Campari GroupWild Turkey Rare Breed BourbonGold

Bourbon – No Age Statement

BrandProductMedal
Buffalo Trace DistilleryWL Weller Craft Your Perfect BourbonMaster
Buffalo Trace DistilleryStagg JrGold
Buffalo Trace DistilleryWL Weller AntiqueGold
Buffalo Trace DistilleryElmer T Lee Single BarrelGold
Buffalo Trace DistilleryColonel EH Taylor Jr Small BatchGold
Buffalo Trace DistilleryWL Weller Single BarrelGold
Buffalo Trace DistilleryWL Weller Full ProofGold
Buffalo Trace DistilleryColonel EH Taylor Jr Single BarrelGold
Buffalo Trace DistilleryEarly Times Bottled in BondGold
Distillery 291291 Colorado Bourbon Whiskey Finished with Aspen Wood Staves, Small BatchGold
Zamora CompanyYellow Rose Harris CountySilver
Zamora CompanyYellow Rose OutlawSilver
Buffalo Trace DistilleryWL Weller Special ReserveSilver
Vok Beverages5 Square Mile BourbonSilver
Buffalo Trace DistilleryColonel EH Taylor Jr Barrel ProofSilver

Bourbon – Aged up to 7 Years

BrandProductMedal
LuxcoGeorge Remus Straight Bourbon WhiskeyGold
Bently Heritage Estate DistilleryBently Heritage Estate Distillery Bourbon WhiskeyGold
Campari GroupWild Turkey 101 BourbonGold

Bourbon – Aged Over 8 Years

BrandProductMedal
Buffalo Trace DistilleryEagle Rare 10 Year OldGold
Campari GroupRussell’s Reserve Rye 10 Year OldGold

Bourbon – Single Barrel

BrandProductMedal
Campari GroupWild Turkey Kentucky SpiritGold
Campari GroupRussell’s Reserve Single Barrel BourbonGold
Campari GroupRussell’s Reserve Rye 13 Year OldGold

Bourbon – Cask Strength

BrandProductMedal
Buffalo Trace DistilleryA Smith Bowman Cask StrengthGold

Tennessee – Super Premium (£31‐£50)

BrandProductMedal
Uncle Nearest Premium WhiskeyUncle Nearest 1884 Premium Small Batch WhiskeyGold
Uncle Nearest Premium WhiskeyUncle Nearest 1856 Premium Aged WhiskeyGold
Emporia BrandsDaddy RackGold

Tennessee – Ultra Premium (£51+)

BrandProductMedal
Uncle Nearest Premium WhiskeyUncle Nearest Master Blend Edition – Batch No.001Gold

Single Malt – No Age Statement

BrandProductMedal
Virginia Distillery CompanyCourage & Conviction Sherry Cask WhiskyGold
Virginia Distillery CompanyCourage & Conviction Cuvée Cask WhiskyGold
Virginia Distillery CompanyCourage & Conviction Bourbon Cask WhiskyGold
Virginia Distillery CompanyCourage & Conviction American Single MaltGold

Single Malt – Aged up to 7 Years

BrandProductMedal
Bently Heritage Estate DistilleryBently Heritage Estate Distillery Single Malt WhiskeyGold

Single Malt – No Age Statement

BrandProductMedal
Westland DistilleryWestland American Single MaltGold
Virginia Distillery CompanyCourage & Conviction Cuvée Single Cask WhiskyGold
Virginia Distillery CompanyCourage & Conviction Bourbon Single Cask WhiskySilver
Virginia Distillery CompanyCourage & Conviction Sherry Single Cask WhiskySilver

Rye – Super Premium (£31‐£50)

BrandProductMedal
High West DistilleryHigh West Double RyeGold
Campari GroupWild Turkey Rare Breed RyeGold

Rye – Ultra Premium (£51+)

BrandProductMedal
Distillery 291291 Colorado Whiskey Finished with Aspen Wood Staves, Barrel Proof Single BarrelMaster
High West DistilleryHigh West Rendezvous RyeGold

Rye – Aged up to 7 Years

BrandProductMedal
Campari GroupRussell’s Reserve Rye 6 Year OldMaster
Campari GroupWild Turkey 101 RyeGold
LuxcoRossville Union Master Crafted Straight Rye WhiskeyGold
LuxcoRossville Union Master Crafted Straight Rye Whiskey Barrel StrengthGold
Bently Heritage Estate DistilleryBently Heritage Estate Distillery Rye WhiskeyGold

Rye – No Age Statement

BrandProductMedal
Zamora CompanyYellow Rose RyeGold
WhistlepigWhistlepig Piggyback RyeGold
Buffalo Trace DistilleryColonel EH Taylor Jr Straight RyeGold
Distillery 291291 Colorado Rye Whiskey Finished with Aspen Wood Staves, Small BatchSilver

Rye – Single Barrel

BrandProductMedal
Campari GroupRussell’s Reserve Single Barrel RyeMaster

Flavoured Whiskey

BrandProductMedal
Ole Smoky DistillerySalty Caramel WhiskeyGold
Ole Smoky DistilleryPeanut Butter WhiskeyGold

The post 2022 American Whiskey Masters Awards: Buffalo Trace Distillery Wins Big first appeared on The Bourbon Review.